Handicapper Tips & Picks

1-JOURNEY was overmatched in a stakes race in his last start but he won his previous three turf races. With his good tactical speed, he should be laying right off the early pace, ready to take over when they turn for home. 6-THREE AFLEET never ran on turf but he looks like the best speed in a race filled with closers. If he takes to the lawn, he might not get caught. 2-GUNNY SACK rides a two-race win streak. This will be his toughest task yet but he could be up to the challenge.

This isn’t a match race but it almost looks like one on paper. 1-AUTISM COMPASSION has been good much of her career but she has been on fire since getting claimed by this barn. She has had six local races, winning four of her last five while finishing in the money in the other two. She beat Izzy’s Monster, her most logical competition, the last time they met. Good speed will have her close from the start and she could easily be on the lead by the time they turn for home. 3-IZZY'S MONSTER, like top choice, has loved this track in the past. But she doesn’t seem quite as sharp as she had been in the past and she’s coming off a 10-weel layoff. She was favored the last time she raced but couldn’t hold off the late run by top choice. Maybe today. 2-PASTA SALAD RHONDA could be the best of the rest. She’s been in good form against easier but she raced competitively against the top pair in the past. 

 2-REGAL MAJESTY improved dramatically after moving to the weeds. She wired the fields in two of her three turf races and ran in second all the way around in the other. Even though there are others in this race possessing early speed, her ability to last under pressure makes her the choice. 3-OH MACARENA could find the perfect pace scenario. She is capable of displaying good early speed but it’s her ability to close well that makes her so dangerous in this spot. 4-CHURCH PEW figures prominently. She finished second in three of her last four races at Canterbury but he only two victories were scored on this course in the summer of 2024. She’s another likely to be coming on late.

There are quite a few runners in here that possess early speed but think that 2-CENTRAL PARK could be the quickest. He dominated in last when dropped to this claiming price after finishing second in his first two races of the year. Meets somewhat tougher in his local debut but could achieve the same result that he had in last. 1-LUCKY SHOT is probably more versatile than top choice. He owns decent speed but is equally adept when coming from off the pace. He was overmatched in last and ran into a runner at the top of his game but the drop back to this easier level makes him a top contender. 6-RUSSIAN TO WIN looked extra sharp beating rivals at a lower level in last. Although he’s taking on tougher here, he could be the best closer in this speed-filled field.  

Interesting race. It will take place on grass but many in here have no turf experience and even most of those that have raced on the surface have never been successful. The lone exception might be 2-SASSY WALKER. She ran two very good races against maiden specials at Ellis back in June of 2023 but then ran up the track when facing maiden specials at Churchill off a layoff that September. For some reason, she never raced on turf again. She’s been in very good form at Fairmont, and Turfway, so far this year but if she can emulate her Ellis turf races in this spot, she’s going to dominate this field. 5-ANNA AFTER MIDNITE is the lone turf winner in the race; a feat she accomplished here last summer. She is quick from the gate but she’s been running out of gas in recent races and she’ll be taking on tougher today. 10-REALTA isn’t in great form but she looks like the best closer in this speed-filled race. Might be able to grab the show dough as she passes tiring speedsters.

2-IDEA MAN could be dropping into the winning spot. He’s been racing downstate and has had some recent success versus better. He finished second in his lone local race this year, his first start of 2025, but has also done well here in the past. He probably won’t be going for the early lead but he’ll certainly be close in the early going. 5-KING OF THE PALACE drops many levels. He has raced primarily on turf but he did beat allowance company on dirt here a year ago. He’s been in poor form but the drop in class could be the great equalizer. 7-BREAKING NEWS meets a bit easier. He owns good speed but is comfortable coming from off the pace. 

Like the versatility of 9-MIRACLE MINDED. She has a good mix of speed but also the ability to rate. Makes her sixth start on turf while making her local debut. It could be graduation day. 7-I’M HUNGOVER moves back into maiden specials but she just missed in last, against maiden claimers, and most of the runners from this barn improve with experience. There should be more than enough early pace in this race to set up for her big late move. Could mow them down in the stretch. 5-BRAVE SAMANTHA is hard to gauge. She is shipping from a tougher circuit but she has never been exactly competitive, on turf or dirt. Guess I wouldn’t be surprised if she won but wouldn’t be at all surprised if she didn’t. 

Tough race with a good mixture of speed and closers. Could make a strong case for virtually every member of the field. But I think I’ll go with 6-ETERNALLY GRATEFUL With the exception of his race two starts back, when he had a ton of early trouble, he’s been in good form for over a year. He’s had two local races, winning one and barely losing the other. He’s not as quick as some in here and doesn’t close as well as some others but he is in the hunt in almost every race. 5-SOUL COAXING tries to make it two in a row. He just beat many of these rivals after finishing second to the red-hot Calibrate in his previous race. 9-REDFIELD could be the best of the speed. He wasn’t able to hold off the late move of top choice in last but he was easily the best of the rest. Could turn the tables if he can grab an easy lead today.